Stephen Gately (Boyzone) passed away

[kidd]

I wonder why no one post this news up.

http://dlisted.com/node/34308

Stephen Gately Of Boyzone Has Passed Away
Sunday, October 11th 2009

Stephen Gately of the Irish boy band Boyzone was found dead yesterday while on vacation in Majorca, Spain with his husband Andrew Cowles. Stephen was only 33.

There aren't many details about Stephen's death since the police are still conducting an investigation. The police said there were no signs of violence. One of Stephen's told The News of the World (I know) that he went out for a few drinks, came back to his house, fell asleep and never woke up.

The members of Boyzone are now on their way to Spain. The group's Louis Walsh said this:

"We're all absolutely devastated. I'm in complete shock. I was only with him on Monday at an awards ceremony. We don't know much about what's happened yet. I only heard after The X Factor and we will rally around each other this week. He was a great man."

Stephen, who was working on his first children's novel at the time of his death, is survived by his husband Andrew.

Source: The Associated Press

[kidd]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009...-death-majorca

Boyzone singer Stephen Gately dies on holiday
Haroon Siddique and agencies
Sunday 11 October 2009 16.09 BST

Ronan Keating 'totally devastated' as band members prepare to fly to Majorca, where Irish star was on break with partner

Tributes from the world of pop music and beyond have poured in for the Boyzone singer Stephen Gately, who died in Majorca yesterday.

Gately, who was 33, died at his holiday home in Port Andratx, where he was staying with his civil partner, Andrew Cowles. Spanish police said there were "no signs of suspicious circumstances".

Gately joined Boyzone in 1993 after answering an advert in Dublin to audition for Ireland's first boyband. The band were hugely successful, enjoying six number-one singles before they split up in 2000.

Gately, who shared lead vocals with Ronan Keating, came out as gay 10 years ago, shocking the band's legion of adoring female fans but retaining their support.

The Boyzone tour website said that members of the band were flying out to Spain following the news. The band – Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch – said in a statement: "We are completely devastated by the loss of our friend and brother, Stephen.

"We have shared such wonderful times together over the years and were all looking forward to sharing many more.

"Stephen was a beautiful person in both body and spirit. He lit up our lives and those of the many friends he had all over the world.

"Our love and sympathy go out to Andrew and Stephen's family. We love you and will miss you forever, 'Steo'."

The band's manager, Louis Walsh, cancelled his scheduled appearance as a judge on the live X Factor show tonight . Walsh, who had been with Gately at an awards ceremony last Monday, said he was "in complete shock". "We will rally around each other this week," he told the News of the World. "He was a great man."

Sir Elton John was among the pop music legends who expressed sadness at the death of Gately. "Stephen was the kindest, gentlest soul," he said. "We send our love and condolences to his partner, Andy, and to all his friends everywhere."

The veteran broadcaster and music historian Paul Gambaccini said: "This wasn't supposed to happen. This was not in the script."

Gately was born in Dublin. Before joining Boyzone he had worked as a barman and shopping assistant and landed a small part in the cult film The Commitments. By the time he came out in 1999, the band had already enjoyed 13 consecutive top five singles. He made the announcement to fans after discovering that someone was planning to sell a story revealing his sexuality to a newspaper.

Despite the band's pin-up status, he received an overwhelmingly positive response from fans who flooded the band's website with messages of support. In 2006, Gately married Cowles in a civil union.

After Boyzone split, Gately embarked on a solo career. He had three top 20 singles but was dropped by his label, Polydor, in 2001.

He went on to have success on the theatre circuit, including taking the lead role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and playing the child catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Lloyd Webber described Gately as "enormously talented" today.

In 2007, Gately appeared on the ITV1 show Dancing on Ice. Boyzone reunited the same year but a recent 19-date tour failed to fill stadiums, despite offers of free tickets.

The former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, whose daughter Georgina is married to Nicky Byrne of the boyband Westlife, was also among those who paid tribute to Gately. He said he knew the pop star, whose family were in his constituency.

"Boyzone and Stephen, they've all been part of Irish life and far wider than that, the last 15 years, and so successful, so it's a huge, huge tragedy. It's so sad," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr show.

"He was 33 years of age, 15 years at the top, a fine musician, it's just a huge tragedy to Irish entertainment, Irish music and further afield as well."

The members of Westlife said Gately helped pave the way for them in the music industry and was a "friendly, positive spirit and a passionate performer".

On Twitter, Stephen Fry wrote: "He was loveable and sweet-natured and will be hugely missed."

[kidd]

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00027949.html

Autopsy Proves Stephen Gately of Boyzone Died of Natural Causes
October 14, 2009 02:11:44 GMT

Authorities have confirmed that post-mortem results prove Stephen died of an "acute pulmonary edema" and there were "no signs of violence" to his body.

A post-mortem on the body of singer Stephen Gately, who was found dead at his apartment in Majorca, Spain on Saturday, October 10, reveals that he died of natural causes due to fluid on the lungs, officials confirmed Tuesday, October 13. "The singer of the British group Boyzone died from natural causes, owing to an 'acute pulmonary edema'," the court statement said. "The autopsy carried out this morning showed there were no signs of violence to the body."

The preliminary findings of the post-mortem would be sent to a laboratory in Barcelona for further analysis. And should there is no contradiction with the autopsy result, the investigation would be closed. Along with the confirmation, it is reported that Stephen's remains could now be flown home to his native Ireland.

Stephen Gately, 33, was on holiday with his same-sex partner Andrew Cowles when he was found dead at his apartment on the Spanish resort island of Mallorca. His bandmates; Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, and Shane Lynch flew to Spain soon after hearing news of his death. The boybanders have shared their feelings of loss in a joint statement posted on the band's website.

Gerald Kean, a lawyer representing Stephen's family, has previously said his close relatives are "devastated" by his death. Though so, there has been no confirming statement made regarding burial plan.

[Cesare]

Never been a fan of Boyzone or Steve (saccharine overdose...), but 33 years of age, that's way too soon to 'kick the bucket'. :-/

[junny]

RIP Stephen Gately. Not really a fan of Boyzone but have enjoyed a few of their more popular songs. It's always sad when someone passes away so young.

[kayacamilla]

Oh wow. he was too young.... not a big fan of boyzone either but still that's really sad... at such a young age....